News in brief from Thailand – December 20
What are sandbags legally speaking? The Council of State is considering this question at the request of the government.
There are still 12.000 tons of sandbags in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. The government wants to have them removed quickly by soldiers, but it fears that some government departments will claim possession.
– Pheu Thai MP Jatuporn Prompan has been acquitted of libel in a case brought by former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. Jatuporn had accused Suthep in December 2009 of recruiting 5.000 foreigners dressed in red shirts to mingle with red shirt protesters on Ratchadamnoen Avenue on December 10 with the aim of vandalizing portraits of the king. The court found that although Jatuporn had damaged Suthep, this happened in a politically turbulent time and Jatuporn had the right to criticize Suthep. Moreover, according to the police, there could indeed have been foreigners.
– Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping pays a 3-day visit Thailand. On Thursday, the two countries will sign six agreements on infrastructure, train systems and energy projects. The Chinese ambassador says that China would like to make the joint patrols on the Mekong permanent. China patrols, Thailand, Burma and Laos started on December 10 following the killing of 13 Chinese crew members in early October.
– The government has given the green light for a reduction in employer and employee contributions to the Social Security Fund until December 2012. The measure is intended to ease the burden on employers and employees affected by the floods.
– In the first six months of next year, the pension will increase by 1 percent for pensioners who have paid contributions for at least 12 months.
– The man who bears some resemblance to the one who would have placed six bombs in Bangkok on Friday, and who is pictured together with Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, was presented to the press by Chalerm yesterday. He said that he has been his driver for 10 years and takes care of him and his son whenever he is in Bangkok. The photo plus suggestion that Chalerm staged the bombings is circulating on the internet. Chalerm called the creators 'politically heartbroken types who couldn't accept election defeat and the fact that they would have to be the opposition party for a while'.
– The widow of Chutidet Suwannakerd, who was killed on December 10, has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission together with Tankhun Jitt-itsara. They also plan to file a complaint with the Parliamentary Committee on Political Affairs and the Lawyers Council of Thailand. They don't trust the police investigation into the murder. According to the widow, her husband was killed after he informed the police about criminal activities of influential people and local politicians.
Tankhun, the Democratic candidate in the July 3 elections in Don Muang district, for whom Chutidet worked as a voter, says he knows who killed Chutidet and who gave the order. The killer is said to be hiding in Petchaburi province; the client is said to be a Pheu Thai district councilor of Don Muang, referred to by Tankhun by the initial W.
– The marines on the border with Cambodia in the province of Trat have been put on alert. The reason is the shooting of a navy helicopter by Cambodian soldiers last week, forcing it to make an emergency landing.
The incident was discussed on Sunday between the commanders on the spot, with the Cambodian commander apologizing. On Monday, we talked again.
The two countries both claim an area designated 326, near where the helicopter was fired upon. According to the Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, the helicopter would have flown over Cambodian territory, but according to the Thai foreign minister, there was a misunderstanding.
Opposition Democrats do not understand why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not protested against Tea Banh's claim.